Blue's Money-Saving Thread
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D
Wait! We're supposed to clean our houses?
On a savery kind of note, here's one that cleans soap gumped up in shower drains and bathroom sink drains.
Ingredients:
1/3rd cup of baking soda
About twice the amount of vinegar.
First, remove the drain strainer. Then, run hot water down the drain for a few minutes. (Enough time to warm up the pipes around the trap.) And after your sure the water isn't in the drain anymore, carefully pour the baking soda down the drain too. (Carefully, or you get baking powder around the drain, instead of in it.)
Then drizzle in the vinegar until it bubbles up to the top of your drain.
Wait for the bubbles to dissipate. (If you hear normally, you will hear when it's done at the bottom.) Repeat. Repeat, repeat, until it stops bubbling when you pour the vinegar.
Try the water. If it drains well now, you're done. If it doesn't, repeat the whole thing over again.
Saves on calling plumbers, if you don't need one.
Give it enough time that the water isn't still going down
On a savery kind of note, here's one that cleans soap gumped up in shower drains and bathroom sink drains.
Ingredients:
1/3rd cup of baking soda
About twice the amount of vinegar.
First, remove the drain strainer. Then, run hot water down the drain for a few minutes. (Enough time to warm up the pipes around the trap.) And after your sure the water isn't in the drain anymore, carefully pour the baking soda down the drain too. (Carefully, or you get baking powder around the drain, instead of in it.)
Then drizzle in the vinegar until it bubbles up to the top of your drain.
Wait for the bubbles to dissipate. (If you hear normally, you will hear when it's done at the bottom.) Repeat. Repeat, repeat, until it stops bubbling when you pour the vinegar.
Try the water. If it drains well now, you're done. If it doesn't, repeat the whole thing over again.
Saves on calling plumbers, if you don't need one.
Give it enough time that the water isn't still going down
D
Repurposing newspapers:
-- When using vinegar on your windows, use newspaper to wipe it. Newspaper print brings a nice shine to the glass. (Do NOT use it if you have plexiglass windows, as it will scratch.)
-- Add wads of newspaper in with your charcoal bricket. Great fire starter to get your charcoals going. (Also use cardboard egg cartons, because they ventilate naturally, and burn slower. Also, your last bag of charcoal works well as paper to start the charcoal.)
-- Great for packing fragile things like plates, knickknacks, and glasses.
-- And just because this instruction video is only good for teddy bears, newspapers make it possible for an adult's head.
[video=youtube;OCJvzSuVT6Q]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCJvzSuVT6Q[/video]
-- When using vinegar on your windows, use newspaper to wipe it. Newspaper print brings a nice shine to the glass. (Do NOT use it if you have plexiglass windows, as it will scratch.)
-- Add wads of newspaper in with your charcoal bricket. Great fire starter to get your charcoals going. (Also use cardboard egg cartons, because they ventilate naturally, and burn slower. Also, your last bag of charcoal works well as paper to start the charcoal.)
-- Great for packing fragile things like plates, knickknacks, and glasses.
-- And just because this instruction video is only good for teddy bears, newspapers make it possible for an adult's head.
[video=youtube;OCJvzSuVT6Q]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCJvzSuVT6Q[/video]
D
Saving Tip:
Freecycle.net is your friend. If you want it, chances are good, someone is about to throw theirs out. About a decade ago, we bought 3 bookcases, but only ended up needing two. Gave the third one away today. It was still in the packaging. (Ten year old packaging, so flaking, but hey FREE!)
I've received a rock tumbler that has never been used (still lol), all the shelving I wanted for our garden, and a garden table all in good shape for free through Freecycle. The concept is simply, many of us don't want to overload landfills with perfectly good stuff, simply because we don't want the stuff anymore.
And I've given away everything from 20+ aloe plants (Mama Aloe was busy lol), and then Mama Aloe (because aloes get big and heavy), to brass fire extinguishers (was going to make lampshades from them, but never did), to a whole bunch of recipe books, to stained glass and Christmas decorations, to a wheelchair and two walkers -- either because I didn't want them anymore, or someone needed them.
The only thing I'd never take from Freecycle is a mattress or bedding. (Bedbugs.)
And the cool thing is it's always the one who wants it who is responsible for lugging it out.
Freecycle.net is your friend. If you want it, chances are good, someone is about to throw theirs out. About a decade ago, we bought 3 bookcases, but only ended up needing two. Gave the third one away today. It was still in the packaging. (Ten year old packaging, so flaking, but hey FREE!)
I've received a rock tumbler that has never been used (still lol), all the shelving I wanted for our garden, and a garden table all in good shape for free through Freecycle. The concept is simply, many of us don't want to overload landfills with perfectly good stuff, simply because we don't want the stuff anymore.
And I've given away everything from 20+ aloe plants (Mama Aloe was busy lol), and then Mama Aloe (because aloes get big and heavy), to brass fire extinguishers (was going to make lampshades from them, but never did), to a whole bunch of recipe books, to stained glass and Christmas decorations, to a wheelchair and two walkers -- either because I didn't want them anymore, or someone needed them.
The only thing I'd never take from Freecycle is a mattress or bedding. (Bedbugs.)
And the cool thing is it's always the one who wants it who is responsible for lugging it out.
D
Clothing wise, quality works in the long run. I was raised to only go for quality, so when we were still middle-class, that's all I bought. I'm still wearing shirts bought in the 1980's. I threw out the pants a couple of years ago, only because I can't wear anything that binds around my waist. They were still good pants. (Alas, hip-hugger bell-bottoms never came back in style.)
And, got to tell you, there is no such thing as underwear that last 20 years, once more 30 years, but don't ask me how I know.
And, got to tell you, there is no such thing as underwear that last 20 years, once more 30 years, but don't ask me how I know.
Just stop brushing your teeth. This has two positive outcomes and only one negative. In the long run you'll even gain ground as well as pounds.
1). You gain weight thru plaque build-up. (Granted it will take an average of about 1.77 years per pound this way; but time is free)....
2). You can save on spending money on tooth brushes and tooth paste; even mouthwash if you are so daring.
3). but the only draw back is you will lose your teeth, and friends.
*We must weigh in our priorities right? But Plausible nonetheless....
1). You gain weight thru plaque build-up. (Granted it will take an average of about 1.77 years per pound this way; but time is free).
...2). You can save on spending money on tooth brushes and tooth paste; even mouthwash if you are so daring.
3). but the only draw back is you will lose your teeth, and friends.
*We must weigh in our priorities right? But Plausible nonetheless.
...
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Clothing wise, quality works in the long run. I was raised to only go for quality, so when we were still middle-class, that's all I bought. I'm still wearing shirts bought in the 1980's. I threw out the pants a couple of years ago, only because I can't wear anything that binds around my waist. They were still good pants. (Alas, hip-hugger bell-bottoms never came back in style.)
And, got to tell you, there is no such thing as underwear that last 20 years, once more 30 years, but don't ask me how I know.
And, got to tell you, there is no such thing as underwear that last 20 years, once more 30 years, but don't ask me how I know.
Don't buy newspapers period - you can upload any news these days for free, minus the cost of operating it. [Thought I would include that point since we are all misers (not to be confused with cheap-skates) here].....Smile..
.
D
-- As of 2002, I learned that it takes $.50 an hour to power up a desktop. (Does anyone have them besides us?)
-- Also TV antennas really work. They cost about one-month cable service, but last over a decade. All the "regular channels" have two extra channels, and the extras are usually movie channels -- with all the movies from 1940's to 1990's. In lieu of spending $200 for cable each month, you can use Amazon, Netflicks, Hula, or other choices for roughly $15-$20 a month and binge-watch entire shows you loved.
-- When buying something that cost a good chunk of money, ask for a discount. Hotels, restaurants, appliance stores, etc. will give 10% off just for asking.
-- Ask for a home audit from your electric company. They will give you money saving tips. When we used them our electric bill dropped by 25%.
-- For mortgage, apartment, or auto insurance get a check up every 5 years.
-- Health insurance is worth checking out each year.
-- If you pay property taxes, and you're poor, check to see if you're eligible for the rebate.
-- Also TV antennas really work. They cost about one-month cable service, but last over a decade. All the "regular channels" have two extra channels, and the extras are usually movie channels -- with all the movies from 1940's to 1990's. In lieu of spending $200 for cable each month, you can use Amazon, Netflicks, Hula, or other choices for roughly $15-$20 a month and binge-watch entire shows you loved.
-- When buying something that cost a good chunk of money, ask for a discount. Hotels, restaurants, appliance stores, etc. will give 10% off just for asking.
-- Ask for a home audit from your electric company. They will give you money saving tips. When we used them our electric bill dropped by 25%.
-- For mortgage, apartment, or auto insurance get a check up every 5 years.
-- Health insurance is worth checking out each year.
-- If you pay property taxes, and you're poor, check to see if you're eligible for the rebate.